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(No Model.) V 2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

J. H. BICKPORD. SIGNALING APPARATUS POB. RAILWAY TRAINS.

Patented Dec.- 28, 1886.

(No Model.) A2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. BICKPORD. SIGNALING APPARATUS PoR RAILWAY TRAINS. No. 355,055.

Patented Deo. 28, 1886.

N. PETERS, Pmwmhwpher, vin-mpio UNITED STATES' PATENT Oriana.,

JOHN H. BICKFORD, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO S. FRED SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY-TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,055, daten December za, i886.

Application tiled February 15, 1886.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. BIcKnoRD, of Salem, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Signaling Apparatus for Railway-Trains, of'

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a train of cars with signaling apparatus, whereby the engineer may be notied when to start or stop the train; also to provide a moving train with suitable mechanism whereby a I5 bell located at a crossing or at a station may be rung, to thereby indicate the approach of the train.

In accordance with this invention amagnetoy generator is located within the engine-cab and A 2o operated preferably by an independent motor,.

and an open circuit leading from the generator extends through the train, suitable circuit-closers being located along theline ,which, when operated, cause a magneto-bell located within the engine-cab to vibrate. The electric wires forming the circuit are coupled together between the cars by a coupling so con@ structed that when in engagement an open circuit is insured, and when pulled apart, as 3o in case of accident or otherwise, the circuit automatically closes, thus giving warning to the engineer of suchan event. Suitable means are also provided by which the coupling when disengaged may be normally kept in such condition as to insure an op'encircuit. A oo ntact-roller carried upon any ot' the trucks of the trainas, for instance, the teuder-is connected in circuit with the saidgenerator, and is arranged to make contact at intervals with 40 an independent rail when nearing a crossing or station, said rail being connected by an electric wire or conductor with a magneto-bell located at the crossing or station, so that when .the train nears the crossing or station the magneto-bell at the said crossing or station is caused to vibrate.

Figure l shows in side View a portion of a train of cars provided with signaling apparatus embodying my invention; Figp2, a lon- Serial No. 191,910. (No model.)

i gitndinal section of the coupling connecting 5o the electric wire between the ears. Fig. 3isa detail of the contact-rail; Fig. 4, a perspective view of a portion of the track, showing theindependent contact-rail and the magneto-bellas adjacent thereto; Fig. 5, a section of a circuit-closer depending from the electric conductor within the cars, and Fig. 6 a detail of a driving-coupler to insure an open circuit upon the train.

The engine A, the cab and rear end portion 6o of which is shown in Fig. l, carries any suitable magneto generator, V A', the armatureshaft of which is rotated by a motor, herein shown as a small engine, A2. An open circuit, formed by the wires 2 3, leads from the gen- 65 erator A, located in the cab, and through the train, one car, B, of which is shown on the drawings.

Suitable circuit-closers (herein shown as ordinary press-buttons, a) are interposed along 7o the line at any desirable point, inside or out' side the car, but herein shown as within the cir, and when depressed by the conductor or' other person the circuit 2 3 is closed, causing a magneto-bell, b, located within the engineeab to vibrate. Code-signals representing a deiinite number of times that the circuit is closed by the circuit-closer a, and known to the engineer, notify him to start or stop the train.

The coupling to be herein described for conneeting the electric wires of several cars with each other,or with the engine, (see enlarged detail, Fig. 2,) consists of two blocks, cc', of similar dimensions, and each connected with the wires to be connected together. The couplingblock c is provided/with a pair of springs, c'L c3, fitted into a socket,`e*, made in abutting faces of the coupling-block, the free ends of the said springs normally remaining in contact 9o with each other. Beside the socket c4, containing the springs, a plug, "c5, is inserted, the end of which projects beyond the abutting face of the block c, consisting of the insulated portion c6 and the conducting portion c". 9 5

The coupling-block o is constructed just the Y reverse ot' the coupling-block c, so that the' projecting portion ofthe plug c5 enters a socket,

`n cestas@ c, between the springs c c1d of the couplingblock c',and the projecting portion of the plug c" enters the socket c, and between the springs c2 c of the coupling-block c. Thus when theA 5 two coupling-blocks are engaged the springs c2 c and c el of each coupling-block will be disengaged.

The wires 2 3 pass longitudinally through the coupling-block, the wire 2 connecting the lo plug c12 and spring c, while the wire 3 is connected with the spring o1", and, as will be seen, when the coupling-blocks are disengaged, as in Fig. 2, a closed circuit is formed by the springs c c1 coming in contact with each other;

I5 but when brought into engagement with each other and the springs separated, as described, a normally-open circuit is formed, as follows: the wire 3, spring l0, conducting portions c7 of the plug c5, from which latter the wire 3 zo continues, and with the wire 2 a similar connection is made.

To retain the coupling-blocks c c" in engagement, spring-latches 015 c16 are secured, respectively, to each coupling-block, which co-operate with annular flanges c" c1B of the couplingblocks.

If the coupling-blocks ce are accidentally or otherwise disengaged, as in the case of a car parting from the train, the circuit is automatically closed, and consequently warning given to the engineer of such an event. To insure an open circuit with the end couplingpiece upon the last car, a dummy-block, d, (see details, Fig. 6,) is provided. The dummy-block d, preferably suspended from each end of a car to be engaged with the couplingvblock to insure an open circuit, consists, essentially, of features shown in either coupling-block, Fig. 2, with the exception that the 4o wires are omitted. Y

When it is desired to stop a train, the circuit may be closed by the circuit-closers a one, two, or more times, thus causing the magnetobell b to respond a similar number of times,

and to start a train a di'erent signal similarly operated may be employed. As shown in this instance, the wires pass through the cars, similar to the bell-cord commonly employed, and, if desired, a circuit-closer, as

5o shown in section, Fig. 5, may be suspended from the wires. This circuit-closer consists of a. tassel, e, suspended from the main wire by the wires 4 5; or it may be suspended by a cord inclosing the said wires 4 5. A press-but- 5 5 ton of ordinary construction is located within the tassel, so that the same is concealed from view, but within ready reach of any person knowing its placeof concealment. Branch wires 6 7 are connected with the wires 2 3, the wire 6 6c being connected with one of the wheels of the truck, and thereby grounded, while the wire 7 is connected with a frame, f, attached to the under side of the truck-frame O of the tender of the engine, the said frame f carrying a fork,

6 5 f', the shank f2 of which is encircled by a spiral spring controlling the rising and falling the crossing or station, and are connected by wire 8 with a magneto-bell, m3, which is 1ocated at the crossing or station, the said magneto-bell m3 being grounded by wire 9. The rail m is of such a length as to cause the magneto-bell m3 to' respond for a limited interval of time, as desired. One of the rails, as m, has a ground-wire, 10, connected therewith, so that a ground-circuit is formed when the contact-ro1ler f 3 comes in contact with the rail m.

Itwill be seen that as the engine lnears a crossing or station, at which point a magnetobell-as m3, for instance-is1ocated,the contactwheel]c3 comes in contact with the rail m, and

v causes the bell m2 to respond, notifying passershas been employed as a crossing or station signal and caused to vibrate by a magneto-current generated upon the train.

By employing the signaling apparatus herein described a single magneto-generator Vcarried upon the engine may generate a current which may be utilized to ring the crossing and station signals, and also the magnetobell located within the engine-cab, and thereby greatly reduce the expense of this system of signaling.

I claim- 1. A coupling for electric signaling apparatus for railway-trains, consisting of the blocks c and c', each provided with asocket containing two metallic springs normally in contact with each other, and a plug having a projecting portion, partly conductive and partly non- `conductive of electricity, and adapted to enter the socket of the opposite block, the circuit-wire 3, connected to theplug and one spring of one of the blocks, and the circuitwire 2, connected to the other spring of said block, and the said wire2 connected to the plug and one spring of the other block, and the said wire 3 connected to the other spring of said last-named block, so that when the coupling-blocks are disengaged a closed circuit is formed, which is broken by the entrance of the plugs between the springs, and hooks engaging flanges to hold the blocks in engagement, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a magneto signalbell and its circuit, a moving-train circuit, a

IOO

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xed rail, m, connected with the said be11- In testimony whereof I have signed muy Wires7 and a. contact-roller, f3, carried upon name to this specification in the presence of one 0f the trucks of the train and having vertwo subscribing Witnesses.

tical and lateral springs, to adapt it to irregu- JOHN H. BIGKFORD. 5 larities in the road as it is in Contact with the Witnesses:

said fixed rail, substantially as shown amide BERNIGE J NOYES,

scribed. Y C. M. GONE. 

